Artpark, Village of Lewiston, anticipating record concert crowds

by jmaloni

Tue, Jul 26th 2011 09:10 am

Record crowds are expected for the July 26 and Aug. 2 Artpark concerts.

by Joshua Maloni

Massive crowds
are nothing new to Artpark & Co.

The non-for-profit organization, which operates the
performing arts venue inside the Village of Lewiston state park, has produced at least a half-dozen shows with audiences exceeding the 20,000 mark since
recommitting to its free, outdoor concert series in 2004. Typically, Artpark's
"Tuesday in the Park" draws between 8,000 and 12,000 music lovers each week.

The next two "TIP" acts, however, are far from
typical. Headliners Lynyrd Skynyrd (tonight) and ZZ Top (Aug. 2), two bands that
normally command big-ticket prices, will perform for free.

The audience for each show, "could be 40,000. We
don't know," Artpark & Co. President George Osborne said. "I don't believe
there's ever been anything like that in Lewiston (at one time)."

With no rain in the forecast for either Tuesday
night, and two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acts on stage, the Village of
Lewiston is bracing itself for a never-before-seen influx of people.

"The next two weeks, there's going to be a lot more
people - we know that," said Mayor Terry Collesano. "We're beefing up security.
... Hopefully, things will go smooth."

Lewiston Police Chief Chris Salada said his entire
department will be on duty to monitor activity inside the park and within the
village and its neighboring town. As usual, New York State Parks Police, state
troopers, Niagara County Sheriff's Office deputies, Niagara County Auxiliary
Police, and U.S. Coast Guard members will join his staff in crowd control and
traffic operations. For the Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top concerts, Salada has
recruited seven additional police officers (six from the Town of Niagara, and
one from the Village of Youngstown).

"Everybody will have a little section of the village
to cover," Salada said. He noted police forces would be on foot, in patrol
cars, on bikes and on horses. "We're not going to tolerate (items such as open,
off-site alcohol containers or marijuana)," he said.

Inside the park, "We've increased security by 30
percent," Osborne said. His guards will work on keeping aisles open and
concertgoers calm.

"I don't anticipate any particular problems," he
said.

Artpark & Co. pulled its regular Tuesday
children's activities for the next two weeks as a precautionary measure. In the
play area's place will be a big-screen television for concert attendees unable
to see the stage, as well as extra washrooms and drink vendors.

"It's going to be a prime viewing area," Osborne
said.

The mayor is optimistic the concerts - and the
anticipated record crowds - will provide a prime view of the local community.

"There's a lot to offer in the Village of Lewiston,"
Collesano said.

"I think every time you bring people in who have
never been here, you give them the opportunity to see what's here," Osborne
said.

He said the restaurant "definitely gets a good crowd
no matter what." But, when bigger acts perform at Artpark, "People come into
town a little earlier. Our dinner rush starts a little earlier."

Down on the other end of Center Street, Water Street
Landing General Manager Matthew Ott said, "It's great to have some big names
like that in the village. I'm excited to see how the traffic pattern (works)."

Ott's restaurant has "definitely noticed an increase
in business this year," as a result of previous Artpark acts such as Creedence
Clearwater Revisited, Pat Benatar, Peter Frampton and Cheap Trick.

Over the next two weeks, "We're expecting the
overflow from (the bigger crowds)," he said.

Jamie Symmonds, owner of Angel to Apple Clothing
Boutique, said, "I get a lot of people (shopping on concert nights)," since moving
closer to Artpark in 2010. "There's definitely a difference"

Osborne said it's all hands on deck for the next two
weeks.

"We're calling in everyone early," he said. "You've
got to be ready. We don't know what to expect."

Though not much of a rock fan, himself, Osborne
said, "These two bands were way up on my list (to book) for a long time."

"I actually happen to like Lynyrd Skynyrd," he said.
"I'd like to sit down and watch the show, but I can't, because there's no place
to sit!"

Artpark's two largest concerts to date - both with
between 25,000 and 30,000 concertgoers - featured headliners Styx in 2006 and
the Doobie Brothers in 2010.